Around Florida

Published Monday, August 04, 2003

Florida Today, on Bob Hope's death:

He was the king of the wisecrack and the one-line gag, but that was only the tip of Bob Hope's greatness as a comedian.

Hope, who died Sunday at 100, was an icon of American entertainment, bringing laughter to millions over eight decades and becoming a bona-fide legend in the process. He came to America as a child from England, and got infected with the show-biz bug in 1915 when he won a Charlie Chaplin imitation contest.

From there he moved into vaudeville in the 1920s, developing a delivery that propelled him to success in radio, movies and TV. His talent made him rich and famous, and he palled around with presidents like they were neighborhood buddies.

But Hope's heart was with the audience, and that was never more true than during his performances for GIs in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. The bond was so strong that Congress in 1997 named Hope an honorary U.S. veteran -- the only person to ever receive that distinction.

"I've been given many awards in my lifetime," Hope said at the time, "but to be numbered among the men and women I admire the most is the greatest honor I have ever received."